Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ending funding for early support hubs in March 2027 on young people in Sheffield.

The Government is committed to improving early, accessible mental health support for children and young people. We know too many children are reaching crisis point before getting help. That is why we have provided more than £20 million in top-up funding to 24 Early Support Hubs, including one hub in Sheffield, since 2024, including £7 million in 2026/27, supporting at least 30,000 additional interventions by April 2027.

This funding is enabling Early Support Hubs to deliver at least 10,000 additional mental health and wellbeing interventions in 2026/27, expanding access to free, community-based support without the need for a referral, helping children and young people access support earlier, preventing problems from escalating, and reducing pressure on specialist services.

The current programme is generating important learning on reach, outcomes, and delivery models. This evidence will inform future plans, including the development of Young Futures Hubs, so that any wider rollout is based on what works for young people and local communities.